"JEOPARDY!" ANNOUNCES ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS!

Top Players From "Jeopardy!," Past and Present, To Compete for Title, "Best 'Jeopardy!' Player Ever"

Culver City, CA, December 30, 2004 - In November, Jeopardy! phenomenon Ken Jennings entered the record books as the biggest money-winner in game show history, prompting the question, "Is he the best player ever?" Now, producers of the hit television quiz show are preparing to answer that question, announcing that in early 2005, Jeopardy! will conduct a 15-week-long "Super Tournament," culminating in a Two Million Dollar prize for the winner.

Invited to compete in the Tournament will be all previous winners of Jeopardy!'s annual Tournament of Champions, College Championship and Teen Tournament, and over 100 of the top-scoring, undefeated, five-time champions in the show's 21-year history. Nearly 150 players will compete in a series of games which will narrow the field to two players, who will compete against Jennings in the finals, to air in May 2005.

Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek says, "Ever since Ken started his amazing run, people have been speculating on how some of the past Jeopardy! players would do against him. By scheduling this Tournament, we're answering that question. I'm calling this competition, 'The Quest for Ken.'"

Jennings, a long-time Jeopardy! fan, states, "I've been a fan of the show for a very long time, and I well remember some of the big players, especially people like Chuck Forrest and Frank Spangenberg. I would love the opportunity to meet them on the Jeopardy! field of battle! I can't wait to see who I'll be up against in the finals."

Jeopardy! Executive Producer Harry Friedman comments, "The 2003 rule change, which allows Jeopardy! players to keep playing until they're defeated, raised the question about how other five-time champions might have played under this rule. This Tournament is an opportunity to give those past champions another chance to shine."

All participating players will be guaranteed prize money at each level of the competition, with the finalists receiving: $250,000 for Third place; $500,000 for Second place; and a $2 Million cash prize going to the winner.

Jeopardy!, a winner of 24 Emmy awards since its debut in 1984, is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and is distributed domestically by King World Productions, Inc. The series is distributed internationally by CBS Paramount International Television.